Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Including keyboard
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-13
2001-10-16
Shalwala, Bipin (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Including keyboard
C345S161000, C345S163000, C345S167000, C345S169000, C341S022000, C341S023000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304250
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a data input system with a pointing device attachable thereto and for use in a computer system, and a related method, and more particularly, to a wire/wireless keyboard which allows wire and wireless communication with a computer system and reduces battery power consumption of during the wireless communication, and a computer system for use with the same.
2. Related Art
Computer systems having a wireless keyboard and a pointing device, such as a mouse, are well known in the art. However, as explained in more detail below, significant problems are experienced in such systems.
For example, when a wireless keyboard operates in accordance with wireless communication and is powered by a battery voltage, the battery voltage rapidly becomes lowered due to, for example, the key function indicator typically provided on such a keyboard having a relatively high power consumption, such high power consumption typically being caused by the necessity to employ LEDs (light emitting diodes).
In addition, such systems have the further disadvantage that, since the mouse is directly connected to the computer, while the wireless keyboard communicates with the processor via wireless communications, a user entering data into the computer using the wireless keyboard is able to do so from a remote location, but then has to suffer a great inconvenience when it becomes necessary to point to data using the pointing device or mouse.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for the development of a wireless keyboard which does not experience the problem of high power consumption and inconvenience in use with a wired pointing device, as explained above.
The following patents are considered to be representative of the prior art, and are burdened by the disadvantages set forth herein: U.S. Pat. No. 5,726,684 to Blankenship et al., entitled
Detachable Convertible Mouse-Trackball Pointing Device For Use With A Computer;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,621 to Nmngani, entitled
Mouse Or Trackball System;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,502 to Register, entitled
Stylus Operable Computer With Wireless Keyboard In Storage Bay;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,285 to Yokota et al., entitled
Standup Portable Personal Computer With Detachable Wireless Keyboard And Adjustable Display;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,543 to Lin et al., entitled
Infra-red Wireless Keyboard System;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,268 to Mori, entitled
Wireless Mouse Apparatus;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,674 to Baker et al., entitled
Method And Apparatus For Wireless Cursor Position Control;
and U.S. Pat. No. 4,099,437 to Stavrou et al., entitled
Remote Control Wireless Keyboard Musical Instrument.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the invention to provide a wire/wireless keyboard to which a pointing device is removable connected, and a related method.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wire/wireless keyboard with low power-consumption by turning-on a specific key function indicator of a computer system when the keyboard operates with wireless communication and when one of specific function key pad thereon is struck.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wire/wireless keyboard to which a pointing device is removable connected, and through which output signals of the pointing device are selectively transmitted by wire/wireless communication to a computer system.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a wire/wireless keyboard to which a pointing device is removably connected, and through which output signals of the pointing device are selectively transmitted by wire/wireless communication to a computer system. of the keyboard or pointing device with a computer system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a computer system having a key function indicator thereon which can be turned on by depressing a specific function key when a wire/wireless keyboard operates with wireless communication.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects of the present invention, there is provided a wire/wireless keyboard when comprises: a battery for supplying a power source voltage for the keyboard; a key matrix having a set of keys for generating a key code corresponding to a depressed key; a wireless signal transceiver for converting the key code into a wireless signal and transmitting the wireless signal to the computer system; and a controller for controlling key function indicating data to be supplied to and displayed on the computer system, said key function indicating data being indicative of a key function state corresponding to a specific function.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, a wire/wireless keyboard for use with a computer system and allowing wire/wireless communication of the keyboard with the computer system comprises: a battery for supplying a power source voltage for the keyboard; a key matrix having a set of keys for generating a key code corresponding to a depressed key; a key function indicator for indicating a key function state corresponding to a depressed specific function key of the keys; a controller for selectively controlling the key code to be transmitted to the computer system by either wire communication or wireless communication; and a wireless transceiver for converting the key code into a wireless signal and transmitting the wireless signal to the computer system, wherein the key function indicator is disabled when the key code is transmitted by wireless communication.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer system having a data input device which has a set of keys and a computer comprises a key function indicator formed on the computer for indicating a key function state corresponding to a depressed specific function key of the keys. The computer has a front vessel on which the key function indicator is formed.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer system has a computer and a first data input device which allows wire/wireless communication with the computer. The first data input device comprises: a battery for supplying a power source voltage for the first data input device; a key matrix having a set of keys for generating a key code corresponding to a depressed key of the keys; a first key function indicator for indicating a key function state Corresponding to a depressed specific function key of the keys; a first controller for selectively controlling the key code to be transmitted to the computer by either wire communication or wireless communication; and a first wireless transceiver for converting the key code into a wireless signal and transmitting the wireless signal to the computer. The computer comprises: a second key function indicator for indicating the key function state corresponding to the depressed specific function key of the keys; and a second controller for receiving the wireless signal from the first wireless transceiver and for determining whether or not the wireless signal thus received is one of specific function keys to generate a control signal. The first key function indicator is disabled when the key code is transmitted by the wireless communication, and the second key function indicator is enabled when the wireless signal thus received is a specific function key.
According to an additional aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a wire/wireless keyboard allows wire/wireless communication with a computer system, said wire/wireless keyboard having a key function indicator indicative of a specific key function state of a depressed specific function key. The method comprises the steps of: determining whether the keyboard operates with either wire or wireless communication with the computer system; if the keyboard operates with wire communication, enabling the key function indicator of the keyboard; if the keyboard operates with wireless communication, disabling the key function indicator of the keyboard; and transmitting a w
Kim Sung-soo
Yang Chang-Hwan
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Nguyen Jimmy H.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Shalwala Bipin
LandOfFree
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